Top Five Retro Commercials That Were Totally Unhinged

The ’80s and ’90s were a strange, lawless time for advertising. Companies were desperate to grab attention, and subtlety was not part of the plan. The result? TV adverts that felt less like selling products and more like fever dreams — complete with bizarre mascots, over-the-top jingles and chaotic editing.

Here are five retro commercials from the UK and beyond that were completely unhinged — and unforgettable.

5. Um Bongo – “They Drink It in the Congo” (1980s)

Why it was unhinged: A tropical fruit drink marketed with a cartoon jungle, rapping animals and a chanty earworm of a jingle. The lyrics made no sense (why would Congolese animals be obsessed with a drink from Devon?), but kids didn’t care.

Legacy: The advert is burned into the memory of every ’80s child, and the jingle is still hummed today whenever someone spots a carton of Um Bongo.

4. Peperami – “It’s a Bit of an Animal” (1990s)

Why it was unhinged: A sausage stick… with a violent, psychotic personality. The claymation Peperami mascot screamed, smashed things up and generally acted unhinged, making it the “bad boy” of snack adverts.

Legacy: It was so chaotic that the campaign lasted over 20 years. Kids loved it, parents hated it, and everyone remembered it.

3. Tango – “Orange Man Slap” (1992)

Why it was unhinged: A man painted orange ran up and violently slapped a Tango drinker around the face. That was the entire advert.

Legacy: Infamously banned after kids started copying it in school playgrounds, leading to bruised cheeks and complaints from parents. Still, it remains one of the most iconic (and dangerous) British ads ever aired.

2. Quiznos Subs – “Spongmonkeys” (2004, US)

Why it was unhinged: Heading over the pond now, these nightmare-inducing, bug-eyed creatures with bad Photoshop quality sang in shrill voices about sandwiches. It looked like a cursed internet flash video… except it was on national TV.

Legacy: It horrified adults, delighted weird kids, and has since gained cult meme status online. Proof that early-2000s advertising had no rules.

1. Cinzano – Leonard Rossiter & Joan Collins (1970s/80s)

Why it was unhinged: Every ad in the series involved Joan Collins trying to enjoy a sophisticated drink, only for Leonard Rossiter to spill it on her in increasingly ridiculous ways. Slapstick, innuendo and chaos ensued — and somehow it made people buy vermouth.

Legacy: The ads were so popular they outshone the drink itself. Today, they’re a perfect snapshot of Britain’s eccentric approach to alcohol advertising.